Microsegmentation vs Network Segmentation: The Question Every Security Team Eventually Asks

Enterprises don't choose between network segmentation and microsegmentation — they operate both. Network segmentation creates broad security zones controlling north-south traffic via VLANs, subnets, and firewalls, while microsegmentation applies granular workload-level policies to control east-west traffic and prevent lateral movement. The real challenge is governing policy intent across all enforcement layers (firewalls, cloud controls, microsegmentation platforms, ZTNA) as each evolves independently, causing policy drift. A practical path: start with network segmentation, layer in microsegmentation for high-value assets, then introduce a unified control plane to govern policy across all enforcement layers. Without governance, 60% of enterprise firewalls fail high-severity compliance checks and Zero Trust initiatives stall.